Present at the meeting:
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon (Cabinet Champion)(In the Chair)
- Councillor Mrs B Bourne
- Councillor Dr C M Cottam
- Councillor S F Ell
- Councillor Ms L E Fagan
- Councillor M Klieve
- Councillor B Merry
- Councillor J Talbot
- Mr A Birchall (Co-opted Member)
- Rev Dr R Buckley (Co-opted Member)
- Mr G Cheeseman (Co-opted Member)
- Rev Deacon R Moore (Co-opted Member)
- Mr B Turrell (Co-opted Member)
The Chairman thanked Mr Birchall for accommodating the Panel at Byrchall High School and to the students for the catering.
32 Apologies for absence: Councillors Mrs K Aldred, Mrs D Fairhurst, K W McManus and R Winkworth and Mr D Barber and Mr S Wilson (Co-opted Members).
33 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 11 September 2008 were approved as a correct record.
34 Review of provision and use of resourced schools: Consultation on the provision of resourced places at Tyldesley Garrett Hall Primary School: The Panel considered a report, which would be submitted to Cabinet, dealing with the outcome of Stage 1 consultation on the proposal to provide resourced places at Tyldesley Garrett Hall Primary School for up to 10 children with special education needs. This included children who may require observation and assessment and those who required support for specific speech and language difficulties and/or low severity Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Implementation of the proposal would be with effect from 1 September 2009.
Members asked questions, to which the Assistant Director of Children and Young People’s Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel endorses the report now submitted.
35 De-registration of the Gerard Unit as a pupil referral unit: The Panel considered a report, which would be submitted to Cabinet, dealing with the de-registering of the Gerard Unit (pregnant schoolgirls and young mums) as a pupil referral unit. The proposal was to de-register the Gerard Unit as soon as appropriate after consultation has taken place and if possible by January 2009 with the aim of bringing it once more under the umbrella of services provided by Alternative and Complementary Education (ACE), but still operating within the Pupil Referral Service (PRS).
Members asked questions, to which the Strategic Manager Behaviour of Children and Young People’s Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel endorses the report now submitted subject to further inspection at Joint Area Review.
36 Care Matters – time for change; the Government’s agenda for improving outcomes for children in care: The Panel considered a report on the Government’s agenda in respect of children in care, the Council’s implementation plan in respect of the Care Matters agenda and their duties and responsibilities in respect of the corporate parenting agenda.
Members asked questions, to which the Service Manager Children in Care of Children and Young People’s Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the content of this report and agree to the responsibilities as a Corporate Parenting Panel; and developing effective communication systems with the Children in Care Council.
37 Equality, diversity and community cohesion issues relating to children and young people, including the recording of bullying incidents and hate-incidents: The Panel considered a report that informed Members of:
- steps taken to eliminate harassment and discrimination, and promote equality and community cohesion among children and young people; and
- bullying incidents and hate-incidents involving children and young people recorded during the Summer Term 2008.
Members asked questions, to which the Equality and Diversity Officer of Children and Young People’s Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted and requests the Chairman send a letter regarding use of the Sentinel system to the Board of Governors agenda for the Spring Term.
38 Questions by Members at Panel Meetings: Rev R Buckley (Co-opted Member) raised a question at the meeting regarding compliance of Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the Service Director – Borough Solicitor Legal Department agreed to respond once they received the copy of the letter from Rev Buckley.
Agreed: That the question and response now submitted be noted.
